Combined clothes and dish washer



Aug- 7, 1951 E. A. KILLIN COMBINED CLOTHES AND DISH WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1944 Inventor Aug. 7, 1951 E. A. KILLIN y 2,563,046

COMBINED CLOTHES AND DISH WASHER Filed May 51, 1944 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 7, 1951 E. A. KILLIN 2,563,046

- COMBINED CLOTHES AND DISH WASHER Filed May 31, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inve'ntor EeA/Es 1941. E/v K/LL/N,

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- COMBINED CLOTHES AND DIsH WASHER Filed May 3l, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 In ventor Zim/sr Huf/v K7 nv,

By g/@twang A fomeys Patented Aug. 7, 1951 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,563,046 CGMBNED CLOTHES AND DISH WASHER Ernest Allen Killin, Battle Creek, Mich. Application May 31', 1944, Serial No. 538,125

(Cl. (iS- 23) 6 claims. l

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in washing machines and more particularly to a convertible washer in which either clothes or dishes may be washed in a safe, practical and eiiicient manner.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a machine in which clothes can be washed quickly and eiliciently and then subsequently dried without removal.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a convertible machine which can be used if desired rst as a clothes washer and then secondly with but a minimum of change in parts as a dish washer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of the machine as a clothes washer.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4 4 of Figure 1. v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the clutch means.

Figure 6 is a top plan view partly in section of the drum and agitator.

Figure 7 is a plan view of an air circulating fan such as is carried by the bottom of the drum.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the automatically operative exhaust louver.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the blades of said louver.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through the dish-containing basket.

Figure 11 is a perspective fragmentary view of the upper tray portion of the basket.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line I2-I2 of Figure 10 showing the shaft therein.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the dish holders.

Referring to the drawings (Fig. 1) wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents the shell or casing of the machine, this havin-g a top 6 and a bottom 6a. The top 6 has a windowed hinged closure 'I therefor and this is equipped with a suitable detent 8.

Suitably mounted on the bottom of the shell 5 is an electric motor 9 having an armature shaft I0 equipped with a worm II which is in driving mesh with a worm gear I2 on a shaft I3. Also on this shaft I3 (see Fig. 4) is a gear Il which meshes with a freely rotatable pinion I5 on the journal portion I6 of a polygonal-shaped shaft I1, this portion I6 extending through a packing gland I8 which is centrally located in respect to a shell I9 which contains an electric heating element 2U, this heating assembly being located on the bottom 2| of a spaced wall tank 22 backed with suitable heat insulation material 23.

As is shown in Figure 5, the pinion gear I5 is freely rotatable on the shaft I6 and is held on the shaft by a collar 24 to prevent longitudinal movement of the pinion on the shaft. The side of the pinion I5 opposed to a lower gear 25 on shaft portion Il has clutch teeth 2B thereon with which clutch teeth 2l on a clutch collar 2B are engageable. The gear 25 is likewise provided with clutch teeth 29 with which the lower clutch teeth 30 on the clutch collar 28 are meshable and as is clearly shown in Figure 5, the clutch collar 28 is splined, as at 3I, to the shaft portion I6. The gear 25 is also freely rotatable on the shaft portion I6 as is pinion I5 and is supported by a collar 32.

As is shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, the worm gear-I2 has an eccentric pin 33 (see Fig. 1) on its bottom side which is disposed into the lon gitudinal slot of a cross frame 34, the cross frame being part of an elongated bar 35. As the gear I2 rotates the bar 35 is reciprocated and a slotted lug 3l and a roller 3B serve as guides therefor. One end of the bar is provided with rack teeth 36 which mesh with the gear 25.

For operating the clutch collar 28, fan arm 39 is provided, rockably supported on a post 40. One end of this arm 39 is formed with a yoke for embracing the collar 28 while the opposite end is pivotally connected as at 4I to a rod 42 connected to the armature of a solenoid 43. Thus by suitable switch means (not shown) the arm can be controlled electrically from the outside of the machine.

Numeral M represents a motor-operated pump having a pipe connection 45 to the inside of the double wall tank structure 22 and this has an outlet 46. With this structure water can be pumped from said tank 22.

Reference character A denotes a clothes drum which is of iluted wall construction with the flutes 41 having perforations 68 therein. At four or live points around the circumference of the drum A vertically extending openings are formed and these are denoted by numeral 49'each having a perforated hinged blade 50 connected to the adjacent edge portion of the drum at its respective openings 49 by a spring hinge 5I, which serves to normally throw the blades or baiiles 50 inwardly so as to serve as splashers for the water to splash water onto the dishes contained in the basket assembly generally referred to by numeral -52. However, when clothes are being washed in member 54 is removably disposed on the shaft II, this agitator 54 being formed to provide a plurality of radially disposed blades'and has a polygonal-shaped hub bore therethrough for receiving the polygonal-shaped shaft I1. A cap screw 55 at the upper end of the shaft- I1 prevents displacement of the agitator, and permits its rethe basket 14 spring-like hook members 82 may be provided for holding cups in place.

As before stated, the agitator 54 is removable from the polygonal-shaped portion of the shaft I8 so that the basket assembly 52 (see Figure 10) can be applied when it is desired that dishes be washed. As shown in Figure 1, the lower portion of the drum A has an inturned flange or ledge 41' and to the bottom side of this is welded the tips of the blades 33a of aspider-like structure such as is shown in Figure 7. ri-he base of the agitator 54 is in the form of a plate 54' which rests upon the spider and at its periphery meets the edge of the vledge 41', the diameter of the plate moval when it is desired to substitute the dishwashing baskets (see Fig. 10).

An annular perforated pipe 56 overlies the drum A and has a connection 56a to hot and cold water supply pipes 59 and 60 having cut off and regulating valves BI and 62 respectively. In the connection 56a is a valve (not shown) controlled by a magnetic unit 63. Obviously by looking through the window of the closure 1 the attendant can ascertain when to shut oif the water and this can be done by the magnetic valve 63 without opening said closure 1.

A second annular perforated pipe 56h underlies the drum A for the purpose of delivering water upwardly into the drum when the agitator 54 has been removed to permit washing of dishes.

In the upper portion ofthe shell 5 is an opening 64 closed by a mesh sheet 65' and with this as shown, in Figure 8, a fan-like exhaust louver generally referred to by numeral 66 is employed. This consists of a plurality of blades 61 each being of segmental construction and having a small inwardly disposed ear 68. These blades are connected swivelly by pintles 69 to the hub 10 and spring means 1I serve to normally maintain the blades all in the same plane. A shaft (not shown) is secured to the hub and rotatably journaled on suitable brackets (not shown) in the casing 1l', which casing is disposed axially of the opening 64. However, as vapor and steam pressure in the drum A builds up and begins to exert pressure against the blades, the blades swing on their swivels and obviously begin to rotate the louver. Thus the louver serves as a means for exhausting steam and vapors from the inside of the shell.

When it is desired to use the machine for washing dishes, the agitator 54 is removed and the basket assembly or article support member 52 applied. The basket assembly consists of the lower basket 13, the intermediate basket 14 and the top basket or tray 15. The upper portions of the baskets 13 and 14 flare outwardly as at 16 and 11 respectively to form seats for the basket 14 and tray 15 respectively. From the bottom of the basket 13, a sleeve 18 extends upwardly and through the bottom of the basket 14. Through the sleeve 18 extends the tube 19 which has a polygonal-shaped opening therethrough for receiving the shaft l1.

On the bottom of the tray are the inverted Ushaped member 80 forming loops kthrough which knives, spoons and the like can be disposed for holding the same steady, while on the bottoms of the baskets' 13 and 14 are wire uprights 8| in which dishes canbe placed. On the Abottom of 54' being less than the inner diameter of the upper pipe 58, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

When it is desired that clothes be washed, the clothes are dropped into the drum A and the tub then being filled by means of the pipes 55 and 56h to the desired level. Of course, the agitator 54 is in place and the drum A can either be rotated or oscillated. The drum is rotated if the upper teeth 21 of the clutch collar 28 are engaging the teeth 26 of the gear I5. However. if oscillation of the drum A is desired, the clutch collar 2,8 is shifted downwardly to engage the teeth 29 on the gear 25 and the oscillating means 23, 34, 35 will be brought into play for oscillating the drum A.

When dishes are to be washed, the agitator 54 is removed, and in its place is disposed the foraminous basket assembly 52, which rests upon the spider structure shown in Figure '7. The drum, in washing dishes, is preferably slowly oscillated. The desired temperature of water is arrived at by the control valves 6|, 62 and water is supplied from this point to the annular perforated pipes 56, 56h, the water spraying downwardly onto the dishes and upwardly. The presence of the blades 50 permit a certain amount of deflection of the water for more thorough washing of the dishes or other articles disposed in the basket assembly 52. After the dishes have been properly washed, they are removed and dried.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A washing machine comprising a tank, a vertical spindle extending into said tank, a drinn having perforated side walls, means securing said drum to said spindle, an article support member disposed in said drum and detachably mounted on said spindle, said member having a base thereon overlying said drum securing means,

` means for selectively oscillating and rotating said spindle, said drum having vertically extending slots in the side walls thereof, blades horizontally pivotally attached to said side walls adjacent said slots, spring means yieldingly urging said blades inwardly of said drum, and an annular spray ring mounted adjacent the upper end of said drum means for selectively oscillating and rotating said spindle, said drum having vertically extending slots in the side walls thereof, blades horizontally pivotally attached to said side walls adjacent said slots, spring means yieldingly urging said blades inwardly of said drum, said drum securing means including a hub, radially extending arms attached to said hub, the free ends of said arms being attached to said drum.

3. A washing machine comprising a tank, a vertical spindle extending into said tank, a drum having perforated side walls, means securing said drum to said spindle, an article support member disposed in said drum and detachably mounted on said spindle, said member having a base thereon overlying said drum securing means, meansfor selectively oscillating and rotating said spindle, said drum having vertically extending slots in the side walls thereof, blades horizontally pivotally attached to said side walls adjacent said slots, spring means yieldingly urging said blades inwardly of said drum, said securing means including a hub, radially extending arms ofl substantially V-shape in cross-section attached to said hub, the outer ends of said arm being attached to said drum.

4. A washing machine comprising a tank, a vertical spindle extendinginto said tank, means for selectively rotating and oscillating said spindle, a drum having perforated side walls and an inwardly extending rim adjacent the lower edge of said side walls, means non-rotatably attaching said drum to said spindle, an article support member mounted on said spindle and having an annular base, said base overlyingand covering the opening defined by the inner periphery of said rim, said drum having vertically extending slots therein, blades horizontally pivotally attached to said drum adjacent said slots, and spring means yieldingly urging said blades inwardly of said drum.

5. A washing machine comprising a tank, a vertical spindle extending into said tank, means for selectively rotating and oscillating said spindle, an article support member mounted on said spindle, a drum having perforated side walls, an inwardly extending rim on the lower end of said side walls, a spider non-rotatably secured to said 6 spindle, the outer end of said spider being secured to the under surface of said rim, an agitator having an annular base plate mounted on said spindle. said base plate being disposed within the inner periphery of said rim, said drum having vertically extending slots therein, blades hori zontally pivotally attached to said drum adjacent said slots, and spring means yieldingly urging said blades inwardly of said drum.

6. A-washing machine comprising a tank, a vertical spindle extending into said tank, means for selectively rotating and oscillating said spindle, a drum having perforated side walls, means securing said drum to said spindle for rotation therewith, said drum having circumferentially spaced vertically extending slots, and blades horizontally pivotally attached to said drum adjacent said slots, and means yieldingly urging said blades inwardly of said drum.

ERNEST ALLEN KILLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 99,029 Stranahan Jan. 18, 1870 1,066,705 Budd July 8, 1913 1,310,537 Merkel July 22, 1919 1,405,243 Wing Jan. 31,1922 1,665,959 Graham Apr. 10, 1928 1,806,982 McKercher May 26, 1931 1,847,665 Perkins Mar, 1, 1932 2,023,013 Faber Dec. 3, 1935 2,146,433 Jackson Feb. 7, 1939 2,151,354 Osuch Mar. 21, 1939 2,173,564 Osuch Sept. 19, 1939 2,208,397 Shawber July 16, 1940 2,246,104 Osuch June 17, 1941 2,272,541 Blake Feb. 10, 1942 2,313,984 Breckenridge Mar. 16, 1943 2,346,152 Clark` Apr. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTSr Number Country Date f 437,252 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1935 

